Articles | Volume 18, issue 13
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4227-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-4227-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
16 Jul 2021
Research article |
| 16 Jul 2021
| 16 Jul 2021
Effects of clear-fell harvesting on soil CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes in an upland Sitka spruce stand in England
Sirwan Yamulki
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Forest Research, Centre for Sustainable Forestry and Climate Change,
Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4LH, UK
Jack Forster
Forest Research, Centre for Sustainable Forestry and Climate Change,
Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4LH, UK
Georgios Xenakis
Forest Research, Centre for Sustainable Forestry and Climate Change,
Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9SY, UK
Adam Ash
Forest Research, Centre for Sustainable Forestry and Climate Change,
Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9SY, UK
Jacqui Brunt
Forest Research, Centre for Sustainable Forestry and Climate Change,
Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4LH, UK
Mike Perks
Forest Research, Centre for Sustainable Forestry and Climate Change,
Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9SY, UK
James I. L. Morison
Forest Research, Centre for Sustainable Forestry and Climate Change,
Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4LH, UK
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Forests can release carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases, nitrous oxide and methane when harvested. We asked which areas in the landscape emitted the most gases after harvest? One third of CO2 emitted was from litter decomposition; ditches were the largest source of methane, and nitrous oxide was produced in drier areas. Our results suggest that keeping forest soils wet after felling will reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases from the landscape
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EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-3659, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-3659, 2026
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Forests can release carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases, nitrous oxide and methane when harvested. We asked which areas in the landscape emitted the most gases after harvest? One third of CO2 emitted was from litter decomposition; ditches were the largest source of methane, and nitrous oxide was produced in drier areas. Our results suggest that keeping forest soils wet after felling will reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases from the landscape
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Forest expansion is a ″net-zero“ pathway, but change in land cover alters air quality in many ways. This study combines tree planting suitability data with UK measured emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds to simulate spatial and temporal changes in atmospheric composition for planting scenarios of four species. Decreases in fine particulate matter are relatively larger than increases in ozone, which may indicate a net benefit of tree planting on human health aspects of air quality.
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Short summary
The effect of clear-felling on soil greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes was assessed in a Sitka spruce forest. Measurements over 4 years showed that CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes responded differently to clear-felling due to significant changes in soil biotic and abiotic factors and showed large variations between years. Over 3 years since felling, the soil GHG flux was reduced by 45% due to a much larger reduction in CO2 efflux than increases in N2O (up to 20%) and CH4 (changed from sink to source) fluxes.
The effect of clear-felling on soil greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes was assessed in a Sitka spruce...
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